Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore: Safeguarding Your Future Decisions
Many of us diligently save for emergencies and buy insurance for a rainy day. We plan for retirement and make sure our loved ones are provided for. Yet one important question often goes unanswered: What if we lose the ability to make our own decisions? It’s not something we like to think about, but accidents or illnesses can strike unexpectedly. In such a scenario, who will manage our affairs? This is where a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) comes in it lets you plan ahead to safeguard your interests and give you and your family peace of mind. In fact, Singaporeans are increasingly recognizing its importance. As of August 2025, more than 350,000 people in Singapore have made an LPA to protect their future decisions. This comprehensive guide will explain what an LPA is, why it matters, and how you can set one up to secure your future. Let’s break it down in simple terms, step by step.
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you (called the donor) to appoint one or more trusted people (called donees) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity in the future. In other words, it’s a way to legally empower someone you trust to act for you in case you cannot make decisions for yourself due to conditions like dementia, severe illness, or an accident. You must be at least 21 years old and mentally capable at the time of making the LPA you’re essentially planning ahead while you are still of sound mind.
Your chosen donee(s) can be given authority over two broad areas of your life:
Personal welfare – decisions about your healthcare, medical treatments, living arrangements, and day-to-day personal matters. For example, your donee could decide where you live (home or nursing facility), what medical procedures to consent to, or arrange for caregivers if needed.
Property and affairs – decisions about your finances and assets, such as managing your bank accounts, paying bills, handling investments, or even selling property if necessary to pay for your care. Essentially, these are financial and property-related decisions to keep your affairs in order.
Importantly, losing mental capacity means being unable to make decisions due to an impairment of the mind or brain, whether from a permanent condition or a temporary situation. It could result from illnesses like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a serious stroke, a traumatic brain injury from an accident, or any medical condition that affects your cognitive abilities. The LPA only becomes active if a doctor certifies that you can no longer make decisions for yourself. Until then, you remain in control of your own affairs making an LPA does not give up any power while you are still mentally capable. It simply stands by as a safety net for the future.
Also, an LPA is not the same as a Will. A Will deals with the distribution of your assets after you pass away, whereas an LPA deals with decision-making while you are alive but incapacitated. In fact, an LPA has no effect once a person dies; at that point, the executor of the Will (if one exists) or the intestacy laws take over. Think of the LPA as planning for who will manage your life if you’re alive but not in a state to do so yourself.
Why Is Having an LPA Important?
Setting up an LPA may feel like a chore to tackle “later,” especially if you’re healthy. But it’s a crucial part of life planning that can save immense hardship for you and your family. Here are some key reasons why an LPA is so important, especially in Singapore’s context:
Avoiding Family Difficulties and Delays: Without an LPA, even your closest family members are not automatically allowed to make decisions or access your accounts on your behalf. Many people assume their spouse or children can simply step in, but legally that isn’t the case. If you lose mental capacity with no LPA, your loved ones would have to apply to the court to be appointed as your deputy a process that can be time-consuming, expensive, and stressful. Court deputyship applications involve paperwork, legal fees, and potentially months of waiting. During that time, your family might be unable to pay your bills, manage your healthcare decisions, or deal with your property. Making an LPA in advance spares your family this ordeal.
Choosing Who Will Act for You: With an LPA, you get to hand-pick a person you trust to manage your affairs. This is especially important if you have strong opinions on who should (or should not) be in charge. Without an LPA, the court may appoint a deputy who might not be who you would have chosen. By naming a donee now, you ensure a trusted decision-maker is in place – someone who understands your wishes, values, and preferences. This could be your spouse, a responsible adult child, or even a close friend. It gives you control over who will take charge, rather than leaving it up to chance or court decisions.
Preventing Disputes and Stress: Families can sometimes disagree on care decisions or finances, especially in a crisis. An LPA provides clear authority to your chosen donee, which can reduce confusion or disputes among relatives about who should do what. Everyone knows “Alex is officially in charge of Dad’s affairs” (for example), so there’s less room for arguments. This clarity can help your family focus on caring for you, rather than wrestling with paperwork or conflict. It also removes the guilt or guesswork from your loved ones they won’t have to second-guess what you might have wanted, because you’ve legally empowered someone to decide.
Continued Care for Dependents: If you have dependents say young children, or even elderly parents you’re looking after an LPA enables your donee to use your funds to take care of them in your stead. For instance, your donee could access your bank account to pay your child’s school fees or your parent’s medical bills. This ensures that those who rely on you won’t be left in the lurch if something happens to you. It keeps the support flowing with minimal disruption.
Peace of Mind for You and Your Family: Perhaps most importantly, creating an LPA gives a great sense of relief. It’s reassuring to know that if life takes an unexpected turn, the people you trust will be legally empowered to make decisions for you. You are essentially setting up a plan so that “things will be taken care of” according to your wishes. Your family is also spared the agony of legal hurdles during an already emotional time. Officials in Singapore describe this as ensuring decisions made on your behalf reflect your values and give both you and your family peace of mind. It’s one of those gifts you give to your future self and loved ones hoping it’s never needed, but immensely grateful to have it if it is.
To drive home how crucial an LPA can be, consider a real-life example shared by a Singaporean doctor. He recalled a heartbreaking case: a father had a sudden medical catastrophe and could no longer manage his affairs. He hadn’t made an LPA. In the hospital, his young daughter was scrambling to gather credit cards from various relatives just to pay for her father’s medical bills, because no one was legally authorized to access the father’s own funds. The family went through unnecessary financial chaos in the midst of an already traumatic situation. Situations like this could be avoided with a simple LPA in place the daughter (if appointed as donee) would have been able to directly use her father’s finances to handle the bills without legal roadblocks.
Finally, remember that an LPA only comes into effect if you lose capacity. If you never need it (hopefully you stay healthy and lucid well into old age), it just remains a precaution in the drawer. Even if it does kick in, it’s not permanent if you recover mental capacity, you can terminate the LPA and resume control of your affairs. The law allows the donor to revoke the LPA anytime as long as they are mentally fit to do so. So you are not locking away your autonomy; you’re simply preparing a fallback plan. In short, making an LPA is a prudent, loving step to protect yourself and those who may care for you.
Making an LPA often involves thoughtful conversations with your family and professionals. It’s not just form-filling it’s about discussing future care preferences, financial arrangements, and who will take charge if needed. Doing this planning in a calm setting (for example, during a consultation with a trusted doctor or lawyer, as pictured above) can make the process feel more natural. By talking it through early, families can ensure everyone is on the same page, which makes implementing the LPA much smoother should the time come.
Who Can You Appoint as a Donee?
Since your donee will have significant power if the LPA is activated, choosing the right person (or people) is critical. Here’s what to consider when selecting a donee in Singapore:
Trust and Reliability: Your donee should be someone you deeply trust to act in your best interests. This is often a close family member like your spouse, an adult child, or a sibling. It could also be a very close friend or any person who knows you well and is responsible. They should ideally understand your values and be willing to carry out your wishes about personal care or financial matters.
Eligibility Criteria: By law, a donee must be at least 21 years old (and of sound mind). Importantly, if you are giving someone control over your property and finances, they cannot be an undischarged bankrupt. (A bankrupt person is legally not allowed to manage others’ financial affairs in this capacity.) In practice, most people choose donees who are family members or trusted friends. However, there is also the option to appoint a professional donee these are individuals or organisations who serve as donees for a fee (such as lawyers or professional deputies). Professional donees are usually considered if someone really has no suitable family/friends to appoint. They must be registered and authorised to act in this role. For the majority of people, though, a family member or friend will be the donee.
Number of Donees: You can appoint more than one donee if you wish. Singapore’s LPA Form 1 (the standard form) allows up to two donees, and you can also name one replacement donee (a backup person who steps in if a donee can’t serve). If you want to appoint more than two donees, that’s possible using LPA Form 2 (we’ll talk about the forms shortly). When appointing multiple donees, you need to decide how they will make decisions together. The two common arrangements are:
Jointly: Donees must act together on all decisions. They have to agree unanimously before taking any action on your behalf. This means one donee cannot act independently without the other’s consent. (For example, if you appointed your two children to act jointly, they both must sign off on every decision from paying a bill to deciding on a medical procedure.) If joint decision-making is not possible (say they disagree or one is unavailable), then action can’t be taken. Joint appointment ensures a check-and-balance (no one donee can go rogue), but it can be less efficient if quick decisions are needed.
Jointly and Severally: Donees can act independently or together either one can make a decision on their own, or they can consult each other; it’s flexible. In practice, this means if one donee is unavailable, the other can still act for you. For instance, if you appoint two donees jointly and severally, either one could go to the bank and handle matters when needed, without waiting for the other’s signature on every form. This is convenient, but it requires a high level of trust in both individuals, since each has full power to act alone.
(There’s also the possibility to specify that donees act jointly for some matters and jointly/severally for others, but most people stick with one of the two patterns above.) If you don’t specify how multiple donees are to act in the LPA, the default under Singapore law is that they are assumed to act jointly. So, it’s important to clearly indicate your preference on the LPA form.
Replacement Donee: You have the option to name a replacement donee who will take over if your original donee(s) become unable to act. For example, you might appoint your spouse as the main donee and your adult son as a replacement. If husband and wife are each other’s donees, they often name an adult child as the replacement donee in case one passes on or both lose capacity around the same time. A replacement donee only has authority if the original donee can’t serve (for instance, if the donee passes away, loses mental capacity, or formally withdraws from the role).
Willingness and Capability: Always ask the person you want to appoint if they are willing to take on the responsibility. It might be an uncomfortable conversation (“Hey, if I become incapacitated, will you manage my life for me?”), but it’s crucial. Being a donee can be challenging it may involve making tough decisions about medical care or dealing with financial paperwork. Make sure your prospective donee feels up to it and understands your expectations. It’s wise to discuss your wishes with them in advance. That way, if the time comes, they have some guidance on how you’d want things handled.
Choosing the right donee is perhaps the most important part of making an LPA. Take your time with it. Many people pick one donee and a backup. Some choose two donees for shared responsibility. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer it depends on your family situation and who you trust. Just remember, whoever you appoint will carry a great duty to act in your best interests, so make sure they’re up to the task.
What Decisions Can an LPA Cover (and What’s Off-Limits)?
An LPA grants significant authority to your donee, but it’s not unlimited power. Let’s clarify what your donee can and cannot do under an LPA:
What your Donee Can Do: In general, your donee can make any decision you could have made yourself in the areas you’ve given them power (personal welfare and/or property & financial matters), as long as it’s in your best interest. This includes, for example:
Managing your bank accounts – e.g. withdrawing money to pay for your expenses, paying your mortgage or rent, paying bills, handling insurance matters, filing your income taxes on your behalf.
Investments and property – e.g. collecting rental income, selling a property or car if funds are needed for your care (if you authorized such actions), managing your stock portfolio or business (again, within what the LPA permits).
Making healthcare decisions – e.g. consenting to or refusing certain medical treatments on your behalf, choosing doctors, arranging therapy or rehabilitation services for you.
Deciding on living arrangements and daily care – e.g. moving you to a nursing home or hiring a domestic helper or private nurse, deciding what kind of rehabilitation or social activities you should engage in, and generally ensuring your comfort and well-being day to day.
Handling personal matters – e.g. deciding who can visit you, taking charge of your personal items and upkeep of your home while you’re unable to, etc.
Your LPA can be tailored to some extent. The standard Form 1 basically gives broad authority in these areas with some basic safeguards. If you have very specific instructions or limitations (for instance, “Donee may manage all my financial affairs except he may not sell my house” or some particular wish), you would need to use Form 2 with legal help to draft those clauses. But most people trust their donee with general powers under Form 1.
What your Donee Cannot Do: There are important boundaries. A donee must always act in your best interests and within the law they cannot do whatever they please. Some actions are explicitly off-limits or not covered by an LPA, for example:
Make a will for you: A donee cannot write or change your Will. LPA only covers decisions while you’re alive; it has nothing to do with distributing your estate after death.
Act after your death: The LPA ends automatically when the donor passes away. At that point, the donee’s authority stops. (Then the Will or intestacy laws take over.) The donee cannot continue managing or giving away assets post-death via the LPA.
Certain personal decisions: Under the Mental Capacity Act, some decisions are excluded for instance, a donee cannot consent to marriage on the donor’s behalf, cannot consent to divorce (except maybe initiating it in limited circumstances), and cannot make decisions about adoption of children on your behalf. These are considered too personal to delegate. Similarly, a donee cannot make or revoke an Advance Medical Directive for you (more on AMD later) you must do that yourself.
No ill-treatment or misuse: Obviously, a donee cannot abuse the donor or misuse the donor’s money for their own benefit. There are legal consequences if they do. Singapore’s law even specifies that if a donee ill-treats or neglects the person who made the LPA, they can face criminal penalties like fines or imprisonment. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) oversees LPA matters and can investigate complaints if a donee is suspected of misconduct. The courts have power to revoke an LPA if a donee is found misbehaving or not acting in the donor’s best interests. So, there are safeguards to protect vulnerable persons from rogue donees.
In summary, your donee has broad authority to manage your real-life, real-time affairs (health and finance) when you can’t, but they cannot make ultra-personal decisions like changing your will or doing things that only you should ever do. And everything they do must be guided by what’s best for you, taking into account your wishes as far as possible. The donee is essentially stepping into your shoes to run your life, but they’re not allowed to exploit that position. Think of it as a fiduciary duty a duty of care and loyalty to you.
It’s a good idea to discuss with your donee what your preferences are. For example, you might tell them “If I’m ever in a coma with no hope of recovery, I wouldn’t want extreme life support,” or “Please make sure to use my savings to keep me in my own home as long as possible, I don’t want to go to a nursing home unless absolutely necessary.” While these kinds of instructions are not written into the LPA form itself, communicating them helps your donee carry out your personal welfare wishes in the spirit you intend.
Duties of the Donee and Safeguards
Being appointed as a donee is a serious responsibility. The law in Singapore spells out that a donee must always act in the best interests of the donor. But what does “best interests” really mean? Essentially, the donee should consider what is best for you (the donor) overall not what’s best for the donee or anyone else. They should, as far as possible, take into account your past and present wishes and values. For example, suppose you had often expressed that you never want to live in a nursing home. Later, you lose capacity. Your donee should remember that and perhaps try to arrange care at home for you, if feasible, rather than immediately putting you in a home. The donee is also expected to consult other people close to you (whom you’d likely consult) for big decisions, if appropriate. In short, they should act as your advocate and proxy, not impose their own will.
Some key points about a donee’s duties and the safeguards in place:
Acting Honestly and Diligently: The donee must act honestly and make diligent efforts to do right by you. They should keep proper records of your finances and transactions, in case questions arise later. For instance, if they are paying your bills and managing your bank account, they should keep track so everything can be accounted for.
No Conflict of Interest: A donee should not mix your funds with their own or make decisions that benefit themselves at your expense. Their role is purely to serve your interests. If a donee ever tries to misuse funds or make self-serving decisions, they risk legal action. Family members or other concerned parties can report misconduct to the Office of the Public Guardian.
Supervision by OPG: The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in Singapore maintains a registry of all LPAs and oversees the scheme. If someone suspects a donee is not acting properly, they can raise it to the OPG. The OPG has investigative powers and can refer matters to court. In serious cases, as mentioned, the court can revoke the LPA or replace the donee if the donee is abusing authority or if the LPA was made under duress or fraud. There have been court cases where an LPA was cancelled because the donee was found mismanaging the donor’s money or exploiting the donor. These safeguards mean that doing wrong by the donor has consequences.
Regular Duties: If your donee is handling your money, they have a duty to keep your finances as sound as possible pay your bills on time, invest prudently if needed, and not do risky speculative things with your assets. If making healthcare decisions, they have a duty to consider medical advice and choose options that align with what they believe you would want and what is in your welfare (for example, balancing quality of life vs. invasive treatments, etc., based on your known values).
Checks on Major Decisions: Certain major decisions might require particular care. For example, if a donee wants to sell your house (which is a large asset), they must be sure it’s necessary and beneficial for you (perhaps to pay for your medical care). If there’s any doubt or potential dispute, they might seek the court’s approval to be safe. The donee also can’t just give away your money as gifts unless the LPA specifically allows it in some limited way (like customary gifts or donations you typically made).
One more safeguard: The LPA must be certified by a neutral third party (more on this in the next section) when it’s created, to ensure that you were not forced into it and understood what you were signing. This certification step catches situations where, say, someone might try to coerce an elderly person to appoint them the certificate issuer (a doctor or lawyer) would refuse to certify if they suspect the donor isn’t acting freely or lacks capacity to decide. This is a built-in safeguard at the creation stage of the LPA.
In essence, once the LPA is in effect, the donee has a legal duty to protect you, not exploit you. And there are mechanisms to enforce that duty. So while it can feel a bit scary to give someone power over your life, know that the system is designed with checks and balances to prevent misuse. If you’ve chosen your donee wisely and discussed your wishes, you should feel confident that they will act as your faithful decision-maker if ever required.
How to Make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in Singapore
Setting up an LPA in Singapore is a straightforward process, and it has become even more convenient with an online system in place. You don’t necessarily need a lawyer (unless you want a custom Form 2, which most people don’t). Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your LPA:
Fill Out the LPA Application (Form 1 or Form 2): The first step is to complete the LPA form with your particulars and the details of your chosen donee(s). Most people will use LPA Form 1, the standard form which provides broad powers with basic safeguards. (Form 1 allows up to 2 donees and 1 replacement donee.) If for some reason you need to customize specific powers or appoint more than two donees, you would opt for Form 2, but that form must be drafted by a lawyer. Tip: 98% of Singaporeans who make an LPA use Form 1 it covers what most folks need, so Form 2 is rarely necessary. You can access the form through the Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO) portal using your Singpass login. The government now encourages doing it all online; in fact, as of 2022 all LPAs are primarily processed via the digital portal. The online system will walk you through filling in names, NRIC numbers, and choosing options (like whether donees act jointly or jointly/severally). If you have no access to Singpass or prefer paper, you can download a hardcopy form and fill it in ink, but hardcopy submissions are only allowed in exceptional cases and require approval. For almost everyone, online is the way to go it’s faster and reduces errors. While filling the form, talk to your intended donee(s) and make sure their particulars are correct. The form will include a section for the donee to sign (or e-sign) to indicate they accept the appointment.
Donee(s) Accept the Appointment: Once you’ve filled in the form, your donee(s) will need to formally accept the role. In the online OPG portal, there’s a step where the donee is notified (usually via their Singpass as well) to log in and confirm that “Yes, I agree to be the donee for [Your Name].” If you are doing it on physical paper, the donee(s) must physically sign on the form to indicate acceptance. This step is important an LPA isn’t valid unless the donee acknowledges and agrees to take on the responsibility. Make sure each donee is aware and completes this part. The system will show once all donees have accepted.
Visit a Certificate Issuer for LPA Certification: After filling the form (with donee acceptance), you must get the LPA certified by an accredited Certificate Issuer. The certificate issuer is essentially a qualified third party who will go through the LPA with you and confirm that you understand what you’re doing and that no one is forcing you into it. This step is done in-person. In Singapore, an LPA certificate issuer can be any of three professionals: a practicing lawyer, a psychiatrist, or an accredited medical doctor. Many people choose to go to a doctor for this typically a general practitioner (GP) who is accredited by OPG or a specialist like a geriatrician if the donor is older. Lawyers who do estate planning can also serve as certificate issuers. (Psychiatrists are usually involved if there’s complexity about the donor’s mental state, to assess capacity.) The key is that the certificate issuer cannot be someone related to you or the donee and must not be a beneficiary of your estate they have to be an independent professional. During the certification, the issuer will likely have a conversation with you privately: “Do you understand this document gives authority to X if you lose capacity? Did anyone pressure you to do this? Are you doing this freely?” They might ask some simple questions to ensure you have mental capacity at the time of making the LPA. If all is good, they will sign off on the LPA form (or digitally certify it on the portal). The certificate issuer then typically submits the LPA application to OPG on your behalf electronically. This certification step is crucial it’s there to protect you. (Side note: At Alami Clinic, our geriatrician Dr. Nur Farhan is accredited by OPG as an LPA certificate issuer, so that’s an example of a doctor you could go to for this process.) The certificate issuer will charge a fee for this service (the fee can vary depending on who you go to). Some clinics have a fixed LPA certification fee (for example, Alami Clinic lists an LPA certification service at $79 excluding consultation) fees are not regulated, so do inquire when making an appointment.
Submission to OPG and Registration: After the certificate issuer has certified and submitted your LPA application, the Office of the Public Guardian will review and process it. If everything is in order, the OPG will inform you that the application is received. Then there is a mandatory 3-week waiting period. This waiting period is essentially a buffer time during which the OPG waits to see if any objections are raised. (Objections are rare an example might be someone coming forward to claim the donor was coerced or not mentally sound at the time of making the LPA. If no such complaints come in, OPG proceeds.) After 3 weeks, the OPG will register the LPA and you will receive a notification that your LPA is registered. As of now, the final LPA document is a digital one you and your donee can download the electronic LPA or access it via the OPGO portal. The entire process, from the day the LPA is certified and submitted, to the day it’s officially registered, takes about 4 to 5 weeks in total. (3 weeks waiting + a week or two of processing time.) Once registered, the LPA is a legal document ready to be used if ever needed.
Cost considerations: The Singapore government has waived the LPA application fee for Form 1 to encourage more people to sign up. Normally, there is a $75$70 fee to register an LPA (Form 1), but this has been waived for Singapore citizens until 31 March 2026. That means if you’re a Singapore citizen, you currently do not have to pay the OPG any fee for processing Form 1. (Permanent Residents and foreigners still have to pay a fee, and Form 2 has a fee $185 for citizens since it’s less common.) So until March 2026, effectively your only cost is the certificate issuer’s fee. This is a great time to get the LPA done while the waiver lasts. Even after the waiver period, the fee is modest compared to the peace of mind an LPA provides. The certificate issuer’s fee will vary: some GPs might charge around $50–$100, some lawyers might charge a couple of hundred dollars. It’s worth calling around or checking with community centres there are also periodic drives or events where LPA certification is offered at discounted rates to seniors. For instance, you can use CDC vouchers at some participating clinics or law firms to offset LPA certification fees, as noted by MSF.
After registration, your LPA is essentially “on file” with the OPG. You and your donee will be given access to the digital LPA. You can also choose to notify other family members that you’ve made an LPA (though you don’t have to). It might be good to let at least one or two close people know, so they’re aware that if something happens, “Jane is the donee, and here’s where the LPA is.”
Lastly, keep a copy of the registered LPA (a digital PDF or a printed copy of the e-LPA) in a safe place. The donee should have a copy too. It will be needed when the time comes to use it.
When and How Can the LPA Be Used?
An LPA just sits in the background after it’s registered it has no effect until the donor loses mental capacity. Hopefully, that never happens, but if it does, here’s how the LPA gets activated and used in practice:
Determining Mental Incapacity: First, it must be established that the donor (the person who made the LPA) has lost the ability to make their own decisions. In a practical sense, this usually means a doctor’s assessment. For example, if an elderly person with an LPA develops advanced dementia and can no longer understand things, their family would take them to a doctor (often a psychiatrist or neurologist, or even a GP familiar with mental capacity assessments). The doctor will evaluate the person and, if appropriate, issue a medical report certifying that the person lacks mental capacity. The Office of the Public Guardian provides a standard “Medical Report Template for LPA transactions” for this purpose. Essentially, this medical memo is proof that “as of this date, Mr. X is medically assessed to lack capacity to manage his affairs.” This document is often required by banks or institutions before they allow the donee to act.
Using the LPA at Institutions: Once you have the doctor’s certification of incapacity, the donee can start using the LPA to step in. For any given institution or transaction, the donee should present the LPA (the registered LPA document) and the doctor’s certification of the donor’s incapacity. For instance, say the donee needs to access the donor’s bank account. The donee would contact the bank and inform them that the account holder has lost capacity and that the donee has an LPA. The bank will typically ask to see the LPA document (nowadays an electronic copy) and may require the donee to fill out some forms. They will also want the recent medical report as evidence the LPA is now in effect. Every bank or financial institution might have slightly different procedures, but generally once they verify the LPA, they will allow the donee to transact on the account. As another example, if the donee needs to speak to the donor’s insurance company or CPF Board or handle a property matter, similarly they produce the LPA and medical memo to prove their authority.
Verification of LPA: Institutions will often do a check with the Office of the Public Guardian to make sure the LPA is valid and still in force. Since LPAs can be revoked or might have been superseded, the institution will confirm with OPG’s records. This is usually done behind the scenes, but it’s a safeguard. Once confirmed, the donee can proceed to act.
Scope of Actions: The donee must remember to stay within the scope of the powers granted. For example, if the LPA was only for personal welfare and not property, the donee cannot deal with the donor’s bank accounts they’d only make care and medical decisions. In most cases though, people grant both types of powers to their donee in Form 1. So the donee will be handling a bit of everything. It can be a lot of responsibility, and often the donee will enlist help from other family members (even if those others don’t have legal authority, they can still assist informally). But legally, the donee is the one signing off and accountable for decisions.
Monitoring and Record-Keeping: It’s wise for a donee to keep records of what they do under the LPA. For instance, keep copies of bank statements, medical reports, and a log of major decisions made. This not only helps in case the OPG asks questions, but also makes it easier to hand things back over if the donor recovers or, eventually, to the executor of the estate when the donor passes away (because the donee might have to show what transactions were done during the LPA period, to the executor or family).
Scenario if Donor Recovers: In some cases, loss of capacity can be temporary or partial. Maybe the donor was unconscious or in a coma and later regains consciousness and decision-making ability. Or a mental condition improves with treatment. If a doctor certifies that the donor has regained capacity, then the donee’s power under the LPA is no longer in effect (because the trigger for LPA the incapacity is gone). The donor effectively takes back control of their affairs. The donor can even formally revoke the LPA at that point if they wish (more on revocation soon). Otherwise, the LPA just lies dormant again until any future incident.
Using an LPA can seem daunting at first (for the donee, especially), but Singapore’s systems are getting more familiar with it as LPAs become common. Banks have procedures, hospitals are aware of checking for LPA donees for patients who cannot consent, etc. As a donee, don’t hesitate to ask institutions what documents they need and follow up diligently. Once everything is verified, the donee can carry out transactions or decisions more smoothly going forward.
One thing to note: An LPA made in Singapore is only valid within Singapore. If you have overseas assets or you reside part-time in another country, an LPA (SG) won’t automatically be recognized there. Other countries have their own versions of power-of-attorney for incapacity (for example, the UK has a similar LPA, other places might have “enduring powers of attorney,” etc.). So if you spend a lot of time abroad or have property overseas, you may need to consult a lawyer in that jurisdiction about preparing a similar document there. But for your Singapore matters, the Singapore LPA will suffice.
Can an LPA Be Changed or Cancelled?
Life circumstances change what if you make an LPA and later want to change something? Or what happens if the donee can no longer serve? Here’s how LPA revocation and changes work:
Revoking (Cancelling) Your LPA: As the donor, you have the right to revoke your LPA anytime, as long as you still have mental capacity to make that decision. Maybe you appointed a friend and later had a falling out and no longer trust them you can cancel the LPA and, if you wish, make a new one with someone else. To revoke an LPA, you will need to fill out a revocation form and inform the OPG. Typically, you’d also inform the donee that their power is revoked. If your LPA is already registered, the OPG will update the register to reflect that it’s revoked. Keep in mind, you can only do this while you are mentally sound. If you’ve already lost capacity, you personally can’t revoke the LPA (since by definition you can’t make legal decisions then). That’s why it’s important to be sure about your donee choice at the time of making the LPA. But rest assured, you’re not stuck with it if you change your mind early on you are free to cancel and redo it with different terms/people, as long as you’re capable. It’s not a bad idea to review your LPA every few years or if major life events happen (like divorce or a donee passes away) to see if it needs updating.
Automatic Revocation Events: Certain events will automatically terminate the LPA or a donee’s authority. For example, if your donee dies or loses mental capacity themselves, obviously they can’t act for you in that case, if you had a replacement donee named, the replacement steps up. If no replacement and there were two joint donees and one dies, typically the LPA might continue with the surviving donee (depending on how it was written if they were joint, this can be an issue because a sole remaining joint donee might not be able to act unless the document allows it, so Form 1 usually advises to appoint replacement in joint setups). Another example: if your donee is your spouse and you get divorced, the LPA for that donee is generally revoked as well (the law treats it that you likely wouldn’t want an ex-spouse handling your affairs, unless you explicitly provided otherwise in the LPA). Also, if a donee in charge of property/affairs is declared bankrupt, they can no longer act in that financial role their powers over property are revoked. If you had given them personal welfare powers too, those might persist if they’re still capable, but the financial part at least ends due to bankruptcy (you would need to appoint someone else for property matters). All these scenarios essentially boil down to: if the chosen donee is no longer suitable or eligible to act, the LPA is halted in whole or part. If at that point you (the donor) still have capacity, you could make a new LPA with new donees. If you’ve lost capacity by then and the LPA fails (e.g. no donee available), then unfortunately the family might have to resort to court deputyship after all. So it’s wise when making the LPA to utilize the option of replacement donee to cover such what-ifs.
Court Intervention: As mentioned earlier, the court can step in to revoke or suspend an LPA if things go awry say there’s evidence the LPA document was forged or the donor was misled, or the donee is abusing their power. For example, if someone suspects the donee of stealing the donor’s money, they can apply to court. The court has powers under the Mental Capacity Act to remove that donee or cancel the LPA entirely in the donor’s best interests. The court can also issue orders to direct donees or deputies in specific ways. These are safety valves used in extreme cases, but it’s good to know they exist.
Making Changes: What if you want to change some detail of the LPA (but not revoke the whole thing)? Unfortunately, once an LPA is registered, you cannot alter it piecemeal. There’s no mechanism to “amend” an LPA the way you might amend a contract. The only way is to cancel and make a new LPA with the updated details. For example, if you move to a new address or your donee gets a new NRIC number, those minor changes don’t invalidate the LPA (you can update OPG). But if you want to add a donee, remove a donee, or change instructions, you’d have to do a new LPA. The latest LPA would supersede the earlier one. So it’s important to get it right as much as possible the first time, though knowing you can redo it if needed is reassuring.
In summary, you remain in the driver’s seat up until you can’t be. You can revoke or remake your LPA as long as you are mentally capable. And if circumstances change after you lose capacity (like something about the donee), the law provides for those cases to ensure you’re not left high and dry without protection.
Planning Ahead: Other Documents to Consider
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a key piece of the planning-ahead puzzle, but it’s not the only one. For a comprehensive plan, you might also consider the following:
Advance Medical Directive (AMD): An AMD is a legal document you sign to inform doctors that you do not want life-sustaining treatment (e.g. CPR, mechanical ventilation) if you are terminally ill and unconscious, with no hope of recovery. In simple terms, it’s a document that says “please let me go peacefully and don’t keep me on machines” under those end-of-life conditions. An AMD is strictly about end-of-life medical care and is only used if you’re unable to communicate and your condition is certified as terminal. Having an AMD can spare your family from having to make painful decisions about pulling the plug, because you’ve made the decision in advance. The process of making an AMD in Singapore involves filling out a form (witnessed by a doctor) and registering it with the Ministry of Health. It’s a separate process from LPA you can do an AMD at any clinic or hospital; it doesn’t involve OPG. If you feel strongly about not wanting to be kept alive on machines in a hopeless scenario, you should complete an AMD. Note: Even if you have an LPA, your donee cannot override your AMD or consent to pull life support if you never made an AMD – that’s why doing an AMD is important if those are your wishes. The donee’s powers in medical decisions are broad, but AMD is governed by a specific law.
Advance Care Plan (ACP): Think of ACP as a conversation and documentation of your healthcare preferences. It’s not a legal instrument like an AMD, but a guided process (usually facilitated by healthcare professionals) where you reflect on and write down your values and wishes for future care. For example, you might document preferences like “If I have dementia, I want to be cared for at home as long as possible” or “I prefer quality of life over length of life, so I would opt for comfort care in serious illness,” etc. You also can appoint a Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson in an ACP this is a person who medical staff will consult for decisions if you can’t decide, to speak on your behalf regarding medical treatment. (Often, people nominate the same person as their LPA donee for personal welfare, to avoid confusion.) Singapore’s Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and hospitals run ACP programs to help people do this. The ACP complements the LPA nicely: your LPA gives legal power to someone, and your ACP guides that person (and doctors) on what decisions you’d want. In fact, the Ministry of Social and Family Development encourages doing an ACP and appointing your LPA donee as your healthcare spokesperson, so that both legal and medical planning aspects align.
Will and CPF Nomination: These are outside the scope of this article, but in brief an LPA covers during life, while a Will covers after death. You should have a Will to ensure your assets go where you want when you pass on. A CPF Nomination is also crucial in Singapore to direct your CPF savings to your intended beneficiaries (since CPF money isn’t covered by a Will). The Straits Times noted that as of 2025, about 1.8 million people have made CPF nominations roughly four in five of those who passed had done so. So, join the crowd and get that in place if you haven’t. These measures work hand-in-hand: LPA handles incapacity, and the Will/CPF Nomination handle the distribution after death.
Insurance and Others: Ensure you have adequate insurance (like disability insurance, critical illness, hospitalization plans) not directly related to LPA, but if something happens, having insurance payout can fund your care which your donee can then manage. Also, if you have any specific wishes like funeral plans or organ donation, you can document those somewhere or inform family.
Essentially, think of an LPA as part of a “legacy planning toolkit” alongside things like Wills, AMDs, ACPs, and insurance. The Singapore government has been campaigning to raise awareness of all these tools for a holistic plan. By taking action on them, you truly cover all bases: you decide who manages things if you’re incapacitated (LPA), you express how you want to be cared for (ACP/AMD), and you determine how your assets are handled after you’re gone (Will/CPF). It may feel like a lot of paperwork, but once done, you can live life with greater peace of mind that the future is sorted out.
Conclusion: Don’t Put It Off Plan Ahead Now
No one likes to ponder worst-case scenarios. It’s understandable that topics like incapacity and death make us uncomfortable. But there’s an empowering flip side: by planning ahead with tools like the LPA, you take control of the narrative even when life is uncertain. Instead of leaving things to chance (or to courts and conflict), you are saying, “I’ve decided how I want things to be handled, come what may.” That is a tremendously responsible and caring act both for yourself and for your loved ones.
Singapore’s population is aging, and issues of dementia and mental incapacity are becoming more common. But even young adults should consider an LPA, because unexpected injuries or illnesses can happen to anyone. The LPA is not just for the elderly; it’s for all of us who want our families protected from avoidable difficulties. As one professional put it, making an LPA is one of the best investments to ensure your family has an easier time if anything happens to you. It costs little or nothing, takes maybe a few weeks to process, and lasts indefinitely. Once it’s done, you can file it away and carry on with life, knowing that safety net is there.
If you’re ready to make your LPA, talk to an accredited doctor or lawyer who can guide you through the steps. They’ll make sure you understand everything and get it right. For example, at Alami Clinic in Singapore, our geriatric specialists are accredited LPA certificate issuers and routinely help individuals and families with this process. We’ve seen first-hand how much relief it brings to families to have that LPA in hand. Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional advice if you have questions or special concerns sometimes just a short consultation can clarify your doubts and get the ball rolling.
In the end, creating an LPA is about peace of mind. You hope it never needs to be used, but you’ll sleep better knowing it’s there. You’re protecting yourself at a time when you’d be most vulnerable, and you’re lifting a burden off your loved ones’ shoulders by spelling out who should help you. So take that step. Have the conversation with your family. Fill out that form. It’s a truly caring move for everyone involved. With your LPA (and other plans) sorted, you can live confidently, knowing that whatever tomorrow brings, you’ve done your best to ensure your wishes will be respected and your loved ones will be guided. That is the essence of why LPAs matter.
If you have more questions about making an LPA or need assistance with the process in Singapore, feel free to contact Alami Clinic. We’re here to help make legacy planning simpler, so you can focus on living your life today.